Applicator for applying a composition to keratinous materials

ABSTRACT

An applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition, the applicator comprising:
         an applicator member for applying the composition and defining at least two different applicator faces that are configured to apply the composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows;   a handle of the applicator, extending along a longitudinal axis of the handle; and   a stem connecting the applicator member and the handle, extending along a longitudinal axis of the stem;       

     the longitudinal axis of the handle being of orientation that cannot be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem, the applicator including marker means not on the applicator member itself, the marker means being for positioning to face the user during application, the applicator member having a predefined angular position relative to the marker means, such that the positioning of the applicator given by the marker means corresponds to using a predefined applicator face.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or a care product to keratinous materials, in particular keratinous fibers, e.g. the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, and to a packaging device including such an applicator.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such an applicator.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Applicators are known, for example from applications EP 1 932 444, EP 1 726 234, US 2006/0272667, and EP 1 630 249, including two or more different applicator faces, in particular differing in the implantation of the teeth on a core or differing in the envelope surface defined by the free ends of the bristles held in the core. Each of the different applicator faces makes it possible to achieve a different makeup effect as a function of the face used.

However, such applicators present the drawback of not making it easy for the user to identify which applicator face to use, and there exists a non-negligible risk when positioning the applicator relative to the surface being made up of the user not using the applicator face that is appropriate for the makeup effect that is desired.

The difficulty in identifying the applicator faces may be made worse when making up the eyelashes or the eyebrows, for example in order to apply mascara, given that the applicator is brought close to the eyes, thereby making it difficult to observe it easily.

US patent application No. 2008/0066251 discloses a tooth brush having a single working face, and an indicator for indicating the position of certain tufts of bristles that are movable relative to other tufts of bristles, so as to enable the teeth to be brushed differently in the morning and in the evening.

In patent application EP 1 593 320, an adjuster element makes it possible to act on the spacing between the first and second ends of a deformable portion of the applicator, that may also include an indication facilitating predetermined adjustment of the spacing. The indication may appear on the handle.

Finally, in patent application EP 1 452 111, the applicator includes a base portion and a handle portion that turns relative to the base portion in order to modify its orientation relative to the base portion, making it possible to obtain different make-up applying movements, and to modify the angle of incidence during application.

OBJECT AND BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There exists a need to improve identification of the selected applicator face, when the applicator comprises a plurality of different applicator faces, so as to make it easier to apply makeup.

The invention also seeks to enable the user to produce different makeup effects as so desired, in simple and safe manner.

In exemplary embodiments, the invention provides an applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition to keratinous materials, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

-   -   an applicator member for applying the composition and defining         at least two different applicator faces that are configured to         apply the composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows;     -   a handle of the applicator, extending along a longitudinal axis         of the handle; and     -   a stem connecting the applicator member and the handle,         extending along a longitudinal axis of the stem;

the longitudinal axis of the handle being of orientation that cannot be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem, the applicator comprising marker means not on the applicator member itself, the marker means being for positioning to face the user during application, the applicator member having a predefined angular position relative to the marker means, such that the positioning of the applicator given by the marker means corresponds to using a predefined applicator face.

In exemplary embodiments, the invention also provides an applicator for applying cosmetic, makeup, or IS a care product composition to keratinous materials, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

-   -   an applicator member for applying the composition and configured         to apply the composition to the eyelashes, the eyebrows, or the         lips;     -   a handle of the applicator, extending along a longitudinal axis         of the handle; and     -   a stem connecting the applicator member and the handle,         extending along a longitudinal axis of the stem;

the longitudinal axis of the handle being of orientation that cannot be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem, and the applicator member having a marked angular position relative to the handle, with marker means being present on the handle for this purpose.

The applicator may include at least one applicator face marked on the handle.

The applicator according to exemplary embodiments of the invention makes it possible to obtain a satisfactory makeup effect, even when the user is not very practiced.

The invention advantageously makes it possible to help the user use the applicator, and to enable the user to choose the orientation of the applicator member relative to the surface being made up, rather than using a chance orientation of the applicator member.

The applicator member need not be axially symmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of the applicator member. In contrast, where appropriate, the applicator member may have one or more planes of symmetry. The envelope surface defined by the free ends of applicator elements need not be axially symmetrical.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the applicator member defines at least two different applicator faces.

The longitudinal axis of the applicator member may be rectilinear and coincide with the longitudinal axis of the stem, which may likewise be rectilinear.

The applicator member may comprise two or more applicator faces, e.g. it may have only two applicator faces that are situated opposite each other. The applicator member may also comprise three or more contiguous applicator faces. The applicator faces extend along the longitudinal axis of the applicator.

In general, the term “applicator face” is used to mean a longitudinal zone of the applicator member that occupies a continuous angular zone about the longitudinal axis, e.g. occupying at least 45°, e.g. about 180°, or some other angular sector, e.g. lying in the range 45° to 210°, or even 60° to 210° depending on the number of applicator faces. First and second applicator faces may be defined by a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the core, e.g. a mid-plane of the core, that may be a mid-plane of symmetry of the core. The applicator member may comprise two halves that are made differently, in particular having different implantations.

The applicator faces are for coming into contact with keratinous materials while applying composition.

Different applicator faces, i.e. having different properties, may make it possible to achieve different makeup effects.

The applicator faces may extend longitudinally over a length that is less than 4 centimeters (cm).

The applicator member may have only two applicator faces that are opposite each other. Within a single applicator face, the elements that are used for application may be the same, and they may, for example, be disposed in rows with a spacing that is the same for all of the rows associated with said applicator face.

An applicator face corresponds to one side of the applicator member. The applicator faces may be distributed about the core of the applicator member, optionally being uniformly distributed.

In general, the applicator member need not be symmetrical about a mid-plane that is situated between its applicator faces.

The applicator member may comprise a core and applicator elements, e.g. teeth or bristles, that are carried by the core. By way of example, the teeth may be disposed in one or more rows on the core. The term “bristle” or “tooth” is used to designate an element that projects individually. The bristles or teeth may be made by molding thermoplastic material, e.g. out of the same material as the region of the core that carries them. The terms “bristle” or “tooth” are interchangeable, even if the term “tooth” is normally used to designate applicator elements of an applicator member made by molding, and the term “bristle” is normally used to designate applicator elements of a twisted-core brush.

The term “different applicator faces” should be understood to mean that the applicator faces differ from each other, or from one another, in at least one of the core and the applicator elements. By way of example, they may differ concerning the applicator elements in: their disposition on the core; their shape; their length; their thickness; their cross-sectional shape; their material; treatment possibly received thereby; their arrangement in their rows; their number in a row; their number on an applicator face; the arrangement of their rows relative to one another; and/or concerning the core in: its shape; the shape of a cross-section thereof; the shape of a longitudinal section thereof; its length; its thickness.

By way of example, the two applicator faces of the applicator member may differ in the shapes of the envelope surfaces defined by the free ends of their respective applicator elements. By way of example, the envelope surface may be flatter for one face that it is for the other.

At least two applicator faces may differ from each other, other than in the concave or convex shape of their envelope surfaces.

When the applicator member has a longitudinal axis that is curved, at least two applicator faces may differ from each other after the curved axis has been straightened.

The applicator member may comprise two different opposite applicator faces, or three different applicator faces, e.g. disposed in a triangle, or even four or more different applicator faces.

The applicator member may comprise a twisted core that retains bristles, and/or a core that is made by molding and that carries teeth.

The marker means may comprise at least one marker that makes it possible to inform the user about the orientation of the applicator member relative to the user's eyes and/or relative to the handle, and consequently relative to the user's hand.

The marker means are not situated on the applicator member itself, e.g. they are situated on the stem or on the handle.

The term “marker” should be understood to mean one or more indications that enable the user to distinguish between at least two different positions of the applicator relative to the hand and/or eyes of the user.

By way of example, the marker may comprise: one or more characters that are alpha-numeric, numeric, letters, icons, or symbols; graduations; or an indented or projecting shape in relief; or at least one zone of the surface of the handle may have a different surface state, color, and/or feel. By way of example, the marker may be in relief. By way of example, the marker may be constituted by half of the handle, e.g. said handle being two-colored or comprising two portions having different surface appearances, e.g. one having an unpolished appearance and the other having a shiny appearance.

At least one marker may be made by printing, e.g. by silk-screen printing, or may be made in some other way.

In a variant or in addition, the marker means may be defined by the shape of the handle. In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the handle need not be circularly symmetrical, in particular it need not be circularly cylindrical.

The shape of the handle enables the fingers and the thumb to be positioned on the handle, e.g. on flats of said handle, so as to encourage the user to take hold of the applicator easily and intuitively in order to position it easily relative to the surface being made up.

By way of example, the handle may comprise a flat, and may be flat along a plane that may, for example, be parallel or perpendicular to a mid-plane for the applicator member. By way of example, the mid-plane may separate two different applicator faces of the applicator member. The marker may be the flat.

Alternatively, the marker may be different from a flat.

The marker may for example be situated on the handle perpendicularly to a flat of the handle, around its longitudinal axis.

By way of example, for the applicator member, the mid-plane may be a separation plane that separates two regions of the core of the applicator member, e.g. each made of a different material or each comprising a different implantation of different applicator elements.

The implantation of the applicator elements on a single region of the core may be constant. The term “implantation” should be understood to mean the number of rows of teeth, the number of teeth per row, the orientation of the teeth within the rows, the disposition of the teeth in the row, the spacing between the rows, the orientation of the rows relative to the longitudinal axis, amongst others.

The handle may comprise one or two flats when the applicator member comprises two different applicator faces, or even three flats when the applicator member comprises three different applicator faces, or even four or more flats when the applicator member comprises four or more different applicator faces, e.g. as many flats as there are different applicator faces of the applicator member.

The stem may be connected at a first end to the applicator member. At a second end, the stem may be connected to a body of the handle that defines the grip surface, or, in a variant, to a fastener cap that is configured to be snap-fastened or force-fitted in the body of the handle.

At least one of the connections between the applicator member and the stem, the stem and the optional fastener cap, and the optional fastener cap and the body of the handle, may comprise polarizing means or any shape that is not completely circularly symmetrical, and that is capable of guaranteeing the mutual angular position of the two elements under consideration during assembly.

At least one of the stem, an endpiece of the applicator member for fastening the applicator member to the stem, and an endpiece of the stem for fastening the stem to the handle, may comprise polarizing means, e.g. that may be formed by a non-circular cross-section, e.g. including a groove or a flat, so as to make it possible to index the applicator member relative to the handle.

The shape of the cross-section of at least one of the stem, the endpiece of the applicator member, and the endpiece of the stem, may for example be circular with a groove or with one or two flats, or polygonal, e.g. triangular or square.

The endpiece of the applicator member, or the endpiece of the stem, or the stem, are for co-operating with a corresponding housing formed in the stem, in the fastener cap, or in the handle, so as to enable the applicator member to be positioned properly relative to the marker means present on the handle.

In cross-section, the stem may be circular in shape over at least a major fraction of its length, or even over its entire length.

In some exemplary embodiments, the handle may comprise a rotary portion that turns relative to a base portion. The base portion may be secured to the stem and to the applicator member, the rotary portion being movable relative to the applicator member. The marker means, e.g. the marker(s), may be situated on the base portion and/or on the rotary portion.

The marker means, e.g. the marker(s), may be situated on one of the two portions, with an additional positioning indicator that is situated on the other of the two portions coming to be positioned facing the selected marker, by turning the rotary portion relative to the base portion.

The additional indicator may be disposed on the rotary portion or on the base portion.

By way of example, the additional indicator could be an arrow, a window, a notch that comes to indicate which marker has been selected by turning the rotary portion relative to the base portion.

The orientation of the rotary portion of the handle need not modify the orientation of the applicator member relative to the base portion.

The rotary portion may be turned relative to the base portion in the direction opposite to the direction for opening the container containing the composition, the unscrewing direction being opposite, for example. The two portions may be configured so that the user can turn the rotary portion relative to the base portion in one direction only, so as not to open the container accidentally while selecting the marker.

By way of example, each of the rotary and base portions may extend along a longitudinal axis, the two longitudinal axes possibly being parallel to each other or even coinciding, e.g. coinciding with a longitudinal axis of the handle, in particular regardless of the degree to which the rotary portion is turned relative to the base portion.

At least one of the rotary portion and the base portion of the handle may comprise an abutment or a snap-fastener device making it possible to position the rotary portion relative to the base portion in at least two positions that correspond to at least two different applicator faces.

By way of example, one of the rotary portion and the base portion need not be circularly cylindrical, e.g. it may comprise one or more flats as described above. Turning makes it possible to encourage the user to position the flat(s) relative to the marker and relative to the desired applicator face.

The applicator member may comprise a twisted core that retains bristles. For a twisted-core brush, an applicator face may correspond to an edge of the envelope surface defined by the ends of the bristles of the applicator member or by the ends of the bristles present between two edges that are in succession when going around the core.

Conventionally, twisted-core brushes are manufactured by inserting bristles between two branches of a wire that has been folded in half, and then by twisting the branches, thereby causing the ends of the bristles to extend in helical layers.

When the applicator member includes a twisted core that retains bristles, the fact that the applicator member is not axially symmetrical means that an envelope surface defined by the end of the bristles retained in the twisted core is not axially symmetrical. The absence of axial symmetry is not attributed to the fact that the bristles retained in the twisted core are distributed helically as a result of the twisting.

The envelope surface of the brush need not be circularly symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the core when straightened out for the purpose of observation, where appropriate.

The applicator member may be made by molding, e.g. injection molding.

In a variant or in addition, the applicator member may comprise flocking carried by a core, e.g. made by molding, e.g. injection molding thermoplastic material.

The core may be flexible, being configured to deform when pressed against the surface being made up, or while passing through a wiper member. In a variant, the core may be substantially rigid.

The applicator member may be molded integrally with the stem.

The applicator member may include a portion that is overmolded, e.g. the teeth being molded onto the core, e.g. out of a different material, e.g. by dual-injection.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, the applicator member may include first rows of teeth that extend longitudinally from a first applicator face, and second rows of teeth that extend longitudinally from a second applicator face.

At least half of the first rows may have a number of teeth per row that differs from the number of teeth per row of at least half of the second rows.

Each of the first rows, carried by the first region, may have the same number of teeth, and each of the second rows, carried by the second region, may also have the same number of teeth, the number n₁ of teeth of the first rows being different from the number n₂ of teeth of the second rows. For example n₁/n₂≧1.3, or even n₁/n₂≧1.5, or n₁/n₂≧1.8, or even 2.

Within each row supported by the first or second applicator face, the teeth may be substantially touching, the spacing between two consecutive teeth being less than or equal to 0.1 millimeters (mm), for example. The spacing corresponds to the smallest gap between the outside surfaces of two consecutive teeth at their bases.

Each row of teeth may include teeth that are in perfect alignment. In a variant, each row of teeth comprises a succession of teeth that are disposed in a staggered configuration.

The number m₁ of teeth of the first applicator face may be greater than the number m₂ of teeth of the second applicator face, e.g. with m₁/m₂ greater than or equal to 1.3, or even m₁/m₂ greater than or equal to 1.5, or even m₁/m₂ greater than or equal to 1.75 or greater than or equal to 2.

By way of example, the first rows of teeth may include more teeth per row than the second rows.

The first rows of teeth may include teeth having thickness that is different from the thickness of the teeth of the second rows.

In some exemplary embodiments of the invention, at least half of the teeth carried by the first applicator face may have thickness e₁ and length l₁, and at least half of the teeth carried by the second applicator face may have thickness e₂ and length l₂, with e₁≠e₂ and l₁≠l₂.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the teeth of the first rows differ from the teeth of the second rows in at least one of their: shape; length; thickness; material; hardness; spacing in the row; and/or orientation in the row.

In general, for all of the applicator members, the core need not support any rows of teeth other than the first and second rows.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the majority or even all of the teeth extending from a first applicator face differ from the majority or even all of the teeth extending from a second applicator face, in at least one of their: shape; length; thickness; material; hardness; spacing in the row; and/or orientation in the row.

In applicators according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the user may apply the composition with the first applicator face or with the second applicator face as a function of the desired makeup effect, after identifying the face to be used, or may even apply the composition with one identified applicator face, and then comb the eyelashes or the eyebrows with the other applicator face. It is thus possible to select the applicator face to be used as a function of the makeup step, namely applying composition to the eyelashes, or separating, extending, or curling the eyelashes. Using a single applicator, it is possible to obtain a wide variety of different makeup effects.

In general, the term “longitudinal axis of the core” should be understood as the line that joins the centers of gravity (barycenters) of the cross-sections of the core. In some circumstances, the longitudinal axis may be a central axis, or even an axis of symmetry for the core, in particular when the core presents a cross-section that has the general shape of a regular polygon or a circle. The longitudinal axis may be rectilinear or curved. The core may be central, i.e. all of the teeth extend outwards from the core, all around the core.

The core lies inside the rows of teeth and may be centered or off-center relative to the rows of teeth.

The applicator member may be molded out of a single material. The first and second regions of the core from which the first and second rows of teeth extend in order to define the applicator faces, may thus be made out of the same material, or, in a variant, out of different materials, in particular materials having different colors, thereby also making it easier for the user to identify the face to be used, if so desired. By way of example, the handle includes markers having the same colors respectively as the applicator faces. The two materials may belong to the same polymer family. By way of example, the two materials may have the same chemical nature but different hardnesses. For example, the two materials may both be thermoplastic polyester elastomers e.g. of trade name Hytrel®, or polyether block amide of trade name Pebax®. When the applicator member is made out of two materials, the two materials may for example have different mechanical properties, in particular in terms of hardness, one of the materials being softer than the other, for example, or they may even have colors that are different. The material of one or the other applicator face, or of both, may be of a different hardness for the core and the teeth.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth and the teeth of the second rows of teeth may be made out of the same material, or, in a variant, may be made out of different materials.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth, and the first region of the core defining a first applicator face, may be made out of the same material. The teeth of the second rows of teeth, and the second region of the core defining a second applicator face, may be made out of the same material. The teeth of the first rows of teeth may be made out of a material that is different from at least one portion of the first region of the core.

At least one of the first region and the second region may present a cross-section that is substantially constant along the longitudinal axis, in particular at least over a fraction of the length of the applicator member.

In a variant, at least one of the first portion and the second portion may present a cross-section that varies along the longitudinal axis.

Over at least a fraction of their length, the core and/or regions of the core may present a cross-section of shape selected from the following list: circular; semi-circular; elliptical; semi-elliptical; polygonal; triangular; square; rectangular; pentagonal; hexagonal; octagonal; and semi-polygonal. The shape may vary along the longitudinal axis of the core.

The first rows of teeth may be images of one another on turning about the longitudinal axis of the core, e.g. on turning through the same angle between two adjacent rows, or, in a variant, on turning through an angle that is not always constant, but that is a multiple of a given angular pitch, for example. The second rows of teeth may be images of one another on turning about the longitudinal axis of the core, through an optionally constant angle.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the applicator thus comprises:

-   -   a core that is elongate along a longitudinal axis, comprising         first and second opposite regions that extend along the         longitudinal axis;     -   rows of teeth having a length that is less than 1.8 mm,         supported by the first region, defining a first applicator face;     -   rows of teeth having a length that is greater than 1.8 mm,         supported by the second region, defining a second applicator         face, at least one of the first and second applicator faces         being identified on the handle.

In general, the ends of the teeth of the first rows of teeth may define a first half envelope surface of the applicator, the ends of the teeth of the second rows of teeth defining a second half envelope surface of the applicator, the first and second half envelope surfaces having shapes that are different, for example.

One of the two half envelope surfaces of the applicator may have a greatest transverse dimension, e.g. a diameter, that is less than 5.5 mm. The other of the two half envelope surfaces may have a greatest transverse dimension, e.g. a diameter, lying in the range 5.7 mm to 10 mm, e.g. about 6.5 mm to 7 mm. At least one row of teeth may be disposed on the core in a manner that is different from another row of teeth, the two rows differing in at least one of the following ways: the length of the teeth; the spacing of the teeth in the row; the implantation of the teeth in the row; the number of teeth in the row; the thickness of the teeth measured perpendicularly to their long direction; the material forming the teeth; the shape of the teeth; the shape of the cross-section of the teeth.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth may be spaced apart by a first spacing, the teeth of the second rows of teeth may be spaced apart by a second spacing, the first spacing being different from the second spacing, in particular smaller than the second spacing.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth may have thickness that is less than the thickness of the teeth of the second rows of teeth. The widths of the teeth are measured at the same distance from the core, e.g. at no distance from the core, i.e. at the base of the teeth.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth may have thickness that is less than the thickness of the teeth of the second rows of teeth, and may be made of a material that is harder than the material of the teeth of the second rows. Conversely, the teeth of the first rows may be thinner, and may be made of a material that is softer than the material of the teeth of the second rows.

The teeth of the first rows of teeth and the teeth of the second rows of teeth need not be disposed within their rows in the same manner relative to the core.

The majority of the teeth of the applicator may have thickness lying either in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, or in the range 0.5 mm to 0.65 mm. The term “thickness of a tooth” is used to designate the greatest cross-section of the tooth. In the first instance, i.e. when the thickness lies in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, the teeth are relatively fine and may also be relatively flexible when the material from which they are made is a flexible material. In the second instance, i.e. when the thickness lies in the range 0.5 mm to 0.65 mm, the teeth are thicker and may be more rigid.

The thickness of the teeth could be selected as a function of the type of makeup effect desired and/or the nature of the eyelashes to be treated and/or the rheology of the composition for application, for example.

The applicator may include only teeth having thickness lying in the range 0.2 mm to 0.5 mm, or, in a variant, only teeth having thickness that is strictly greater than 0.5 mm and less than 0.65 mm, or it may even include both. By way of example, teeth having a certain thickness may be mixed together with teeth having another thickness, or, in a variant, the teeth having a certain thickness may be grouped together in one region of the applicator member, while the teeth having another thickness are grouped together in another region of the applicator member, e.g. opposite the first.

The term “length of tooth” is used to designate the distance measured along the long direction of the tooth between the free end of the tooth and its base via which it is connected to the core. The length of a tooth is measured from the core of the applicator member.

All of the teeth of a portion of the applicator member may have the same length, except possibly the teeth situated in the vicinity of each of the two ends of the applicator member.

The applicator may include between 150 and 500 teeth, for example.

As indicated above, the teeth may be disposed in rows extending along the longitudinal axis of the core. The term “row” is used to designate a succession of teeth that are generally situated on the same side of the core, and that succeed one another along the core. By way of example, the applicator may include at least three rows of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis, e.g. between 3 and 20 rows of teeth.

All of the rows of teeth of the first applicator face may include teeth that are substantially touching within a single row. The same may apply for teeth of the second rows of the second applicator face.

Each applicator face marked on the applicator member may include at least three rows of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis, the number of rows being distributed half and half between the applicators faces, for example. By way of example, the first or second applicator face may include between 3 and 8 rows of teeth.

A row of teeth extending along the longitudinal axis may have at least three teeth of the same length. Within a row of teeth, the number of teeth may lie in the range about 6 to 60, in particular in the range about 10 to 50. At least one row of teeth may extend along a rectilinear axis that may optionally be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the core. At least two teeth of at least one row may present lengths that are different or identical. At least two teeth of at least one row may present shapes that are different or identical. At least one tooth of at least one row may present a general shape that tapers towards its free end. At least one tooth may be of tapered, frustoconical, or pyramid shape. At least one tooth of one of the rows may present a shape that is different from a tooth of another row.

When the core is observed along its longitudinal axis, two teeth of a row may extend at their bases in directions that form a first angle between them, and two teeth of another row may extend at their bases in directions that form a second angle between them, the first and second angles being equal or different.

Within each row, the teeth may be spaced-apart evenly along the longitudinal axis of the row, or they may be grouped together in groups of two or more teeth, the spacing between the teeth of one group along the longitudinal axis of the row being less than the spacing between two adjacent groups of teeth of said row.

By adapting the shape of the teeth and their spacing, it is possible to establish cavities of greater or smaller size between the teeth, such cavities being suitable for being loaded with composition. It is thus possible to make a row of teeth that is capable of being loaded with a substantial quantity of composition, but without the row of teeth losing its capacity to grip the eyelashes.

Two rows of teeth may be made out of different respective materials. In addition, the teeth of a single row of teeth may be made out of different materials, e.g. of different hardnesses or colors.

At least two successive teeth of a row may optionally be touching at their bases, all of the teeth of the row being non-touching or being touching at their bases. The spacing between the teeth, measured at the bases of the teeth and not between the axes of the teeth, may lie in the range 0 to 1.2 mm within a row, e.g. in the range 0.01 mm and 1 mm. When the teeth are touching at their base, the spacing between the teeth measured at the base of the teeth is zero.

When the applicator is observed from the side, perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, at least two teeth may define a V-shaped groove.

Teeth of one row and teeth of another row may extend in different directions.

The teeth of a row may have bases that are substantially in alignment, namely that the centers of the bases of three consecutive teeth are situated substantially on a single straight line.

The core may include a plurality of longitudinal faces, and the applicator may include rows of teeth, each extending from one of the longitudinal faces of the core.

One or more longitudinal faces of the core may define an applicator face. The teeth of at least one row may be connected to the corresponding longitudinal face of the core on the same side of a middle longitudinal line of the longitudinal face of the core.

The teeth may have bases that are not centered on the longitudinal face of the core to which they are connected.

The bases of the teeth in a row may be in alignment, or they may be disposed in a staggered configuration. For a staggered configuration, a plurality of consecutive teeth of the row may be offset at least in part, alternately on opposite sides of a geometrical separation surface that may be plane. The consecutive teeth may be offset completely, alternately on opposite sides of the geometrical separation surface. The term “offset completely” should be understood as the geometrical separation surface not passing through the teeth, being a tangent to said teeth at the closest.

All of the teeth of each row may be offset alternately on opposite sides of a geometrical separation surface that is associated with the row. In a variant, the teeth may be offset on opposite sides of the separation surface, not alternately, but in groups of teeth, e.g. in groups of two or three teeth.

Still in a variant, the teeth may be offset not on opposite sides of a surface, but disposed in a pattern that is repeated along the longitudinal axis of the row, each pattern comprising three or four teeth, for example, in alignment along a line that extends obliquely relative to the axis of the row, for example.

Two consecutive teeth of a row need not be images of each other that are merely shifted in translation, in particular when the cross-sections of the teeth are non-circular in shape.

At least two consecutive teeth of a row of teeth may have first faces both having a common first shape, e.g. plane, at least at the bottom portion of the tooth, for example, and second faces both having a common second shape, e.g. not plane, in particular rounded. The first faces may all face in the same direction around the core, i.e. they may all face in the same clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, when the core is observed along its longitudinal axis.

The applicator may include rows of teeth within which the teeth present first faces of the same shape, e.g. plane, facing in alternation in one direction about the longitudinal axis of the core and in the other direction. Such a disposition of the teeth makes it easier to manufacture them using mold shells having joint planes that are longitudinal mid-planes for the rows.

The first faces of the teeth, in particular when they are plane, may be connected substantially perpendicularly to the corresponding face of the core, at least for some teeth in the row. At least one tooth, or even all of the teeth, may present a plane face that is parallel to its long direction.

The cross-section of at least one tooth, or even of each tooth, may be of substantially semi-circular or semi-elliptical in shape, e.g. D-shaped, or it may be of still some other shape. At least one tooth may present a cross-section that is: circular; elliptical; polygonal, in particular triangular, square, rectangular, octagonal, parallelogram-shaped, lozenge-shaped; or oval. This may impart thereto a better capacity to deform in a preferred direction.

At least one tooth may present at least one portion in relief. Such a characteristic may improve the adherence of the composition to the tooth.

Without changing in shape, the cross-section of the tooth may decrease on going away from the core, e.g. over more than half of the length of the tooth. Two teeth may be of shapes that are different, e.g. of cross-sections that are different, or of longitudinal sections that are different, At least one tooth may be frustoconical in shape. At least one tooth may be cylindrical in shape.

The teeth may optionally be rectilinear, e.g. each extending along a long axis for the tooth that is rectilinear, or else they may be curved, or they may even be undulating. The term “longitudinal axis of the tooth” is used to mean an axis that passes via the centers of gravity of the cross-sections of the tooth.

The free ends of the teeth may define an envelope surface that may extend along a longitudinal axis that forms a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis of the core.

The envelope surface may be of greatest transverse dimension, e.g. of diameter, that is substantially constant over at least a fraction of the length of the applicator member.

The envelope surface may be in the shape of a peanut, an American football, frustoconical, or two half-shapes selected from amongst the above-mentioned shapes and fitted together along a diametral plane containing the longitudinal axis of the core, e.g. one portion in the shape of half an American football adjacent to a portion that is frustoconical.

Each of the rows of teeth may extend on the core along a longitudinal axis of the row. The longitudinal axis of the row is a central axis for the bases of the teeth of the row, being the straight line passing via the centers of the bases of the teeth for teeth that are rigorously in alignment, or the axis passing via the separation surface for teeth that are in a staggered configuration.

Since the longitudinal axis of a row is considered at the surface of the core, two longitudinal axes of two successive rows, around the longitudinal axis of the core, may be separated angularly by an angle that is less than 80°, e.g. about 60°, or even less than 50°, e.g. about 45° or less. The distribution of the longitudinal axes of the rows at the surface of the core may be substantially regular, with spacing between them that is substantially constant and equal to a predefined value ±20%, better ±10%, better still ±5%.

The applicator member may include a zone that does not have teeth, between two rows of the first region or of the second region, the two rows supported by the same region being spaced apart by a gap that is twice the gap between the other rows carried by the same region of the core.

Teeth may be situated along the core, around the longitudinal axis of the core, at intervals of about one every 360°/n, for example, with n lying in the range 3 to 20, better in the range 4 to 16, better still in the range 6 to 10.

The applicator member should not include a toothless region that extends angularly over more than one eighth of a turn.

By way of example, the teeth may extend in at least six different directions around the longitudinal axis of the core.

The teeth may extend along a long axis that is perpendicular to the surface of the core to which they are connected, or, in a variant, that is not perpendicular, forming a non-zero angle with the normal to the core at the base of the teeth.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the teeth are made with the core by molding or by overmolding.

In exemplary embodiments of the invention, the eyelashes may be loaded with composition that is in contact with the core. The core may thus participate in active manner in applying composition to the eyelashes, thereby offering more freedom in the choice and the arrangement of the teeth.

At least one tooth of a row may extend, at least at its portion that is connected to the core, or even over its entire length, along a first direction Z₁, perpendicular to the longitudinal face of the core to which the tooth is connected, or forming a small angle with the normal, e.g. less than 10°, better 5°. A consecutive tooth of the row may extend from the same face of the core along a second direction Z₂, at least at the portion that is connected to the core, or even over its entire length, forming an angle α with the first direction, when the core is observed along its longitudinal axis. All of the teeth of the various rows may be made in this way.

Substantially half of the teeth of a row may extend parallel to the first direction Z_(l). The angle a between the directions Z₁ and Z₂ may lie in the range 5° to 80°.

The teeth may be connected perpendicularly to the core or they may be connected at an angle with the normal to the core, such that all of the teeth face in the same direction around the core, when the core is observed along its longitudinal axis. The applicator member thus need not have teeth that are oriented in opposite directions around the core. For example, when the core is observed from its distal end, all of the teeth that extend obliquely may be oriented in the clockwise direction.

The core may include at least one longitudinal face that is plane. In a variant, the core may include at least one longitudinal face that is not plane, e.g. being concave or convex, at least in part.

When observed perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, the core may present a profile that varies. In particular, the core may present a transverse dimension that reaches a minimum in a central portion of the core, along its longitudinal axis.

At least one tooth, better each tooth, of a row or of the applicator may extend from a corresponding longitudinal non-plane face of the core in manner that is substantially perpendicular to a plane that is tangent to the core at the tooth. For example, for a cylindrical core of circular cross-section, the teeth may extend radially.

The core may present a longitudinal face that is concave or convex in cross-section, and that has concavity or convexity that may vary along the longitudinal axis of the core.

The core may present at least one face from which teeth extend, the face presenting a width that varies along the longitudinal axis of the core.

The core may present a cross-section that is substantially constant, at least over a fraction of its length. The core may also present a cross-section that varies. The cross-section of the core may pass through an extremum that is substantially mid-way along the core, the extremum being a minimum, for example. This may impart increased flexibility to the core, and makes it possible to define an envelope surface of section that varies along the applicator member, in particular when the teeth in a row are of the same length, at least over a fraction of the length of the applicator member.

In a variant, the length of the teeth may vary along the row, such that the cross-section of the core and the cross-section of the envelope surface of the applicator member defined by the free ends of the teeth are not geometrically similar.

The envelope surface of the applicator member may present, at a first location along the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, a first cross-section that is substantially polygonal, and, at a second location along the longitudinal axis, a second cross-section that is substantially polygonal, at least a first vertex of the first cross-section being connected to at least a second vertex and to a third vertex of the second cross-section via respective edges, the first and second vertices being offset angularly around the longitudinal axis of the applicator member, at least one of the first and second cross-sections being centered on the longitudinal axis of the applicator member.

The core may present a longitudinal face that is twisted. The applicator member may present a helical distribution of the teeth on the core, oriented clockwise or counter-clockwise on going towards the distal end of the applicator member.

The applicator may include a single row of teeth per longitudinal face of the core.

The length of a row, or even of all of the rows, may lie in the range about 10 mm to 45 mm, in particular in the range 15 mm to 35 mm, or even in the range 20 mm to 30 mm, e.g. being about 25 mm.

The core may extend along a longitudinal axis that, at at least one point along its length, forms a non-zero angle with the longitudinal axis of a stem to which the core is fastened. The core may be bent where it connects to the stem.

The core may include a recess in which there is engaged a support portion, e.g. made of metal or plastics material. The core may be configured to be fastened to the support, or it may be free to turn or to move in translation relative to the support.

In a variant, the portion of the core that supports the teeth may be solid. The core may include a housing at one of its ends only, so as to enable it to be fastened to a stem connected to a handle.

The core may have a greatest transverse dimension, measured perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, e.g. a diameter, lying in the range 1.2 mm to 3 mm.

The teeth may be made integrally with the core, e.g. by molding, in particular by injection-molding. The mold may be formed of a plurality of shells. The number of shells may be equal to the number of rows of teeth.

The applicator member may be formed by mono-injecting material or by over-injecting, preferably using a thermoplastic material that may be elastomeric. By way of example, it may be made by injection into a mold that has perforated sides in such a manner as to form the teeth. The applicator member may also be made by dual-injection, e.g. by injecting two materials simultaneously into a single mold.

The teeth may be made of a material that is more rigid or less rigid than a material that is used to make the stem of the applicator to which the core is connected.

At least one of the core and an applicator element may present magnetic properties. By way of example, the magnetic properties may result from a filler of magnetic particles, e.g. of ferrites, that are dispersed in the plastics material of the core and/or of the applicator element.

At least one of the core and an applicator element may be flocked and/or may include a filler for improving sliding, for example.

The core may be constituted by a separate piece that is fitted to the stem of the applicator. The core may be fastened to the stem of the applicator by inserting an endpiece that extends the visible portion of the core into a housing formed at the end of the stem. In a variant, the core may include a housing that extends longitudinally, and into which the stem is inserted.

Still in a variant, the core may be made integrally with the stem of the applicator by molding a plastics material.

The core may be made of a plastics material that is more flexible or less flexible than the plastics material that is used to make the stem of the applicator.

By way of example, the diameter of the stem may lie in the range 3 mm to 3.5 mm.

The applicator may be free of any metal, thereby making it possible to put it in a microwave oven.

Where appropriate, the core may have a hollow inside, and it may include at least one channel via which the composition may pass through the applicator member.

The applicator member may be configured for applying a cosmetic, makeup or care product on the lips. The applicator member may for example be inclined with regard to a stem of the applicator, defining two applicator faces, each configured for the application on one of the two lips.

Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide an applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition to keratinous materials, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

-   -   an applicator member for applying the composition, said member         not being axially symmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of         the applicator member; and     -   a handle of the applicator;

the applicator member including at least one applicator face having an angular position marked on the handle, or even at least two different applicator faces having an angular position marked on the handle.

The handle may have a longitudinal axis of orientation that is not adjustable relative to a longitudinal axis of a stem connecting the applicator member and the handle.

Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide an applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition to keratinous materials, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the applicator comprising:

-   -   an applicator member configured to apply the composition to the         eyelashes or the eyebrows or the lips;     -   a handle of the applicator having a stationary portion and a         portion that is movable, e.g. rotatable, relative to the         stationary portion;

the applicator member comprising a movable portion of position that is modifiable relative to the stationary portion of the handle, in such a manner that the applicator member defines at least two application surfaces of different shapes depending on the position of the stationary portion of the handle relative to the movable portion of the handle.

By way of example, the applicator member may have two different applicator faces in one position of the stationary portion of the handle relative to the movable portion of the handle. The applicator member may define two application surfaces of different shapes on a given face, a first shape of the application surface corresponding to a first position of the stationary portion of the applicator member relative to the movable portion of the handle, and a second shape of the application surface corresponding to a second position of the stationary portion of the applicator member relative to the movable portion of the handle.

By way of example, the two application surfaces of different shapes may be obtained by deforming the applicator member by means of a core of non-circular cross-section placed in an envelope of the applicator member, the section being oval, elliptical, rectangular, or oblong, for example. Turning the core relative to the envelope of the applicator member may modify its shape. The applicator member may also comprise an envelope engaged on the core, with the degree to which the core is pushed into the envelope determining the shape of the application surface of the applicator member.

In other exemplary embodiments, the invention also provides a packaging and applicator device for applying a composition on the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, or the lips, the device comprising:

-   -   a receptacle containing the composition for application; and     -   an applicator comprising:         -   a handle having two portions that are movable relative to             each other; and         -   an applicator member comprising:             -   an envelope; and             -   a core movable relative to the envelope;

movement of the core relative to the envelope taking place in response to movement of one portion of the handle relative to the other, the movement of the core relative to the envelope modifying the outside shape of the applicator member.

By way of example, the core may turn relative to the envelope, both possibly having cross-sections that are not circular, such that turning the core gives rise to a modification in the shape of the envelope.

The applicator elements may be organized in an homogeneous manner, so that the difference between both application surfaces may depend on the shape of the envelope.

The applicator may not comprise two difference faces.

The envelope may have applicator elements that are organized to define at least two different applicator faces.

In a variant, the core may also slide in the envelope and expand it to a greater or lesser extent depending on the degree to which it is pushed therein.

A Device

Exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a packaging and applicator device for applying a composition to keratinous fibers, in particular the eyelashes or the eyebrows, the device comprising an applicator as defined above, and a receptacle containing the composition. The handle of the applicator may constitute a closure cap for closing the receptacle.

The handle may be configured to close, in leaktight manner, the receptacle containing the composition for application. The receptacle may comprise a wiper member that may be adapted to wipe the stem and the applicator member.

The composition may be a mascara, e.g. a water-resistant mascara that is black or some other color, or a care product for the eyelashes or the eyebrows, or even a lipstick, a lipgloss, a gloss, or a care product for the lips.

The applicator could be used with a vibration generator. By way of example, it is possible to have a motor at the end of the handle, making it possible to generate vibration.

Where appropriate, the vibration generator may be mounted on the handle in identified manner relative to a marker present on the handle.

The invention also provides a plurality of applicators as defined above, grouped together in a display tray, e.g. in a shop, and in which the applicator members of each of the applicators all have the same angular position relative to the marker means of the corresponding handle.

The receptacle may comprise an inner wall which may be configured to move into the receptacle, in order for example to mix the composition.

The receptacle may comprise a wall which may be in contact or at a short distance, for example less than 1 mm, with the applicator member when it is in place in the receptacle.

A Method of Applying Makeup

Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method of applying makeup to the eyelashes or the eyebrows by means of an applicator as defined above, wherein the marker means are positioned facing the user.

Positioning the marker means may comprise the step of selecting a marker when the marker means comprise a plurality of markers and of positioning the selected marker facing the user.

The marker indicating the desired applicator face may be turned to face the user, thereby causing the applicator face to be positioned properly relative to the surface being made up. In particular, the user may position the marker naturally to face the eyes.

Independently or in combination with the above, the invention also provides a method of applying makeup to the eyelashes or the eyebrows by means of an applicator as defined above, wherein the user selects, in a first step, one of the application surfaces of the applicator member and/or one of the applicator faces of the applicator member, in order to proceed with applying makeup.

In the second step, the user may select the other of the application surfaces and/or the other of the applicator faces.

In the second step, the user may modify the orientation of the movable portion of the handle relative to the stationary portion of the handle in order to select a second application surface.

The second step may be selected by the user for the purpose of changing the amount of composition applied to the application zone, e.g. the eyelashes, the eyebrows, or the lips, or in order to finish off the application of makeup. In yet another variant, the second step may enable a different makeup effect to be achieved.

A method of manufacture

Independently or in combination with the above, exemplary embodiments of the invention also provide a method of manufacturing an applicator as defined above.

During manufacture of the applicator, it is possible to mark the angular position of the applicator member relative to the handle before associating said applicator member with said handle, so as to obtain proper positioning of the marker means relative to the applicator member, and in particular relative to the different applicator faces of the applicator member.

By way of example, indexing may be obtained by polarizing means.

It is also possible to mark the angular position of the applicator member and of the handle by analyzing images and/or by detecting a mark present on at least one of the applicator member, the stem, or the handle.

In a variant, the applicator member may be mounted on the handle and the applicator member may be indexed relative to the marker means manually by sight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention can be better understood on reading the following detailed description of non-limiting exemplary embodiments thereof, and on examining the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary longitudinal section view in elevation showing an example of a device made in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the FIG. 1 applicator member shown in isolation;

FIG. 3 is a view as seen looking along arrow III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 a shows the FIG. 1 device being used;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are views as seen looking along arrows IV and V in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views similar to FIG. 4 showing variant exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 8 is an exploded view of a variant exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 a is a cross-section of a variant exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 b is a longitudinal section on VIII-VIII in FIG. 8 a;

FIGS. 9 to 15 and are diagrammatic and fragmentary cross-sections of variant exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 16 to 18 and are diagrammatic and fragmentary cross-sections of variant exemplary embodiments of applicator members;

FIGS. 19 to 28 and are diagrammatic and fragmentary cross-sections of variant exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 29, 30, 32, 34, and 36 are diagrammatic and fragmentary views showing arrangements of teeth;

FIGS. 31, 33, and 35 and fragmentary perspective views of variant exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 37 to 41 are cross-sections of teeth;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view of a variant exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing another variant;

FIGS. 44 to 48 are diagrams of envelope surfaces of other variant exemplary embodiments;

FIG. 49 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a variant exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 50 a to 50 g are side views in perspective showing variant exemplary embodiments;

FIGS. 50 h and 50 i are side views of a variant exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 50 j is a diagrammatic and fragmentary perspective view of the variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 50 h and 50 i;

FIG. 50 k is a view along arrow K of the variant exemplary embodiment of FIG. 50 h;

FIG. 50 l is a diagrammatic and fragmentary section view of the closure cap of the variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 50 h to 50 k;

FIG. 51 is a side view of a variant exemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 52 and 53 are examples of wires that are suitable for being used to manufacture the core of the FIG. 51 brush;

FIGS. 54A to 54F are cross-sections of examples of bristles that are suitable for being used to manufacture the brush;

FIGS. 55 to 63 and 59 a are cross-sections of various examples of envelope surfaces of the brush;

FIGS. 64 to 72 are side views showing examples of envelope surfaces for the brush;

FIGS. 74 to 78 show variant exemplary embodiments of applicator elements;

FIG. 79 is a diagrammatic and fragmentary cross-section of a variant exemplary embodiment of the wiper member;

FIGS. 80 and 81 show details of variant exemplary embodiments of the stem;

FIGS. 82 a and 82 b are diagrammatic and fragmentary sections of a variant embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 83 a and 83 b are diagrammatic and fragmentary longitudinal sections of a variant embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 83 c and 83 d are diagrammatic and fragmentary longitudinal sections of a variant embodiment of the invention;

FIGS. 84 a and 84 b are diagrammatic and fragmentary longitudinal sections of a variant embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 84 c is a fragmentary perspective view of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 84 a and 84 b;

FIG. 85 a is a side view of a variant exemplary embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 85 b is an elevation and cut-away view of the variant exemplary embodiment of FIG. 85 a; and

FIG. 85 c is a longitudinal section of the closure cap of the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 85 a and 85 b.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1 to 5 show a packaging and applicator device made in accordance with the invention, the device comprising an applicator 5 and an associated receptacle 2 containing a composition P for application to the eyelashes and/or the eyebrows, e.g. mascara or a care product.

In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, the receptacle 3 includes a threaded neck 4, and the applicator 2 includes a closure cap 5 that is arranged to be fastened on the neck 4 so as to close the receptacle 3 in leaktight manner when not in use, the closure cap 5 also constituting a handle for the applicator 2.

The closure cap 5 includes an outer body that is visible in FIG. 1 and that defines the grip surface via which the user can take hold of the applicator 2.

The closure cap 5 includes a flat 5 a that is visible in FIG. 1, and a second flat 5 a that is opposite the first, not visible in FIG. 1, but visible in side view in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The closure cap 5 further includes two markers 5 b that make it possible to inform the user about the orientation of the applicator 2 relative to the user's hand when said user takes hold of the applicator 2 via the handle.

In particular, the user may place the thumb and the index finger on respective ones of the two flats 5 a, and position one of the two markers 5 b to face the user.

In the exemplary embodiment described, each of the two markers 5 b includes a different color, shown by different-sized dots in the zone of the marker.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the markers 5 b are situated on either side of the flat 5 a relative to the longitudinal axis Y of the applicator 2, but it would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention if this were otherwise, e.g. if the markers were situated in alignment with a flat or on a flat. The applicator 2 includes a stem 7 of longitudinal axis Y, which stem is connected at its top end to the closure cap 5, and at its bottom end to an applicator member 8.

The receptacle 3 also includes a wiper member 6 that is inserted in the neck 4.

In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, the wiper member 6, which may be of any type, includes a lip 9 that is arranged to wipe the stem 7 and the applicator member 8 while the applicator 2 is being removed from the receptacle 3. The lip 9 defines a wiper orifice of diameter that is adapted to the diameter of the stem.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the stem 7 presents a cross-section that is circular, but it is would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention for the stem 7 to present some other section, the cap 5 thus possibly being fastened on the receptacle 3 other than by screw-fastening, if necessary. The wiper member 6 could be adapted to the shape of the stem 7 and to the shape of the applicator member 8, where appropriate.

In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, the longitudinal axis Y of the stem 7 is rectilinear and coincides with the longitudinal axis of the receptacle 3 when the applicator 2 is in place thereon, but would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention for the stem 7 to be non-rectilinear, e.g. forming a bend. Where appropriate, the stem 7 may include an annular narrowing at its portion that comes to be positioned facing the lip 9 of the wiper member 6, so that said wiper member is not mechanically stressed unduly during storage.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, it can be seen that the applicator member 8 includes a central core 10 of elongate shape, extending along a longitudinal axis X.

The core 10 comprises a first region 10 a and a second region 10 b that is opposite the first portion, and each of the regions 10 a and 10 b extends along the longitudinal axis X of the core.

In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, over the majority of its length, the core 10 presents a cross-section that is polygonal, having sides that define longitudinal faces 15. The longitudinal axis X is central.

By way of example, the longitudinal faces 15 are six in number, the cross-section of the core being substantially hexagonal. In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, each of the regions 10 a, 10 b occupies half of the core, with each defining three of the longitudinal faces 15, the regions 10 a and 10 b being symmetrical to each other about a mid-plane containing the longitudinal axis X of the core.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, a single row 17 of teeth 18 is connected to each of the longitudinal faces 15.

The applicator member 8 defines two applicator faces A₁, A₂, the first applicator face A₁ being formed by the region 10 a of the core and the teeth 18 a that are carried by said region 10 a of the core, and the second applicator face A₂ being formed by the region 10 b of the core and the teeth 18 b that are connected thereto.

The rows 17 of teeth 18 comprise first rows 17 a of teeth 18 a that extend from the first region of the core 10 a, and second rows 17 b of teeth 18 b that extend from the second region 10 b of the core. The rows 17 a define the first applicator face A₁ of the applicator member, and the rows 17 b define the opposite second face A₂.

In the exemplary embodiment described, the two applicator faces A₁ and A₂ are opposite relative to the longitudinal axis X of the applicator member.

The two applicator faces A₁ and A₂ are also different, and the applicator 2 is configured in such a manner that the positioning of each of the markers 5 b corresponds to one of the applicator faces A₁ and A₂.

The positioning of the markers 5 b may correspond exactly to one of the faces A₁, A₂, e.g. one marker being disposed in the middle of the angular extent of the corresponding applicator face, or, in a variant, offset a little, e.g. by an angle a that may be small, e.g. less than 45°, as shown in FIG. 3 a.

When the selected marker is positioned facing the user's eyes, the applicator face may thus be offset a little relative to the iris of the eye, but better positioned relative to the set of eyelashes, thereby also making it easier to perform the movement used to apply makeup.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the applicator faces A₁ and A₂ differ in particular by the shape of the envelope surface defined by the free ends of the teeth 18. The envelope surface of the applicator face A₂ is of semi-cylindrical shape, whereas the envelope surface of the applicator face A₁ is half-peanut shaped.

The shape of the envelope surface is a result of the shape of the core, with the region 10 b being plane and the region 10 a being convex in its middle, in the exemplary embodiment described.

As shown, the faces 15 of the region 10 a of the core may be concave in the central portion, the concave shapes being centered on a mid-plane of the core 10, e.g. intersecting said core substantially half-way along.

The concave shapes of the longitudinal faces 15 may be formed by a narrowing of the cross-section of the core 10.

Furthermore, the applicator faces A₁ and A₂ differ in the length of the teeth carried by each of the regions 10 a and 10 b of the core.

The teeth 18 a carried by the region 10 a of the core are longer than the teeth 18 b carried by the region 10 b of the core.

Finally, the rows 17 a and 17 b also differ in the spacing of the teeth 18 a, 18 b in the row, the teeth 18 a being more spaced apart in the rows 17 a than the teeth lab in the rows 17 b. As a result, the applicator member includes a greater number of teeth lab than teeth 18 a, although the number of first rows 17 a is equal to the number of second rows 17 b.

Naturally, each of the applicator faces A₁, A₂ could differ in other characteristics, or they could differ in only one of the various above-described characteristics, namely the shape of the envelope surface, optionally linked to the shape of the core, the length of the teeth, or the spacing of the teeth in the row.

In order to use the device 1, the user unscrews the closure cap 5 and removes the applicator member 8 from the receptacle 3.

After the applicator member 8 has passed through the wiper member 6, a certain quantity of composition remains on the applicator member, e.g. between the rows 17 and between the teeth 18 of the rows, and can be applied to the eyelashes or the eyebrows by the user.

When the user takes hold of the applicator 2 by the handle constituted by the closure cap 5 by applying the fingers on the flats 5 a, that brings one of the markers 5 b into a position facing the user, with the particular marker being selected as a function of the desired makeup effect, as shown in one of FIG. 4 or 5.

In this way, the applicator face A₁ or A₂ that corresponds to the selected marker 5 b is automatically positioned so as to face the surface that is to be made up.

The user can select which face of the applicator member to use, as a function of the desired makeup effect. In a variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the closure cap does not have flats 5 a, e.g. being circularly cylindrical.

In another variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the closure cap 5 includes a rotary portion 52 that turns relative to a base portion 51. In the exemplary embodiment described, the rotary portion 52 defines the free end of the cap 5 and includes the flats 5 a. The base portion 51 takes the form of a ring that carries the markers 5 b that are associated with the position of the applicator faces A₁ and A₂.

The user can turn the rotary portion 52 relative to the base portion 51 in such a manner as to position the flats 5 a in appropriate manner.

Such a configuration may advantageously lead the user to pay attention to the indexing of the applicator member relative to the handle.

Furthermore, the rotary portion 52 may include an indicator for indicating its position relative to the base portion 51, e.g. in the form of an arrow 53 disposed in such a manner as to point to the marker 5 b that is selected. Turning the rotary portion 52 makes it possible to position the indicator 53 so that it faces the selected marker 5 b.

In a variant, an applicator provided with a rotary portion and with a base portion could also be provided with a flat 5 a.

Still in a variant, the applicator 2 need not be provided with an indicator 53.

During manufacture of the applicator 2, the applicator faces A₁, A₂ may be positioned relative to the marker 5 b by hand, by simple observation, or automatically, e.g. by means of the presence of polarizing lines 57 on the handle 5, as shown in FIG. 8.

By way of example, the applicator member 8 and the stem 7 may be connected to the closure cap 5 either directly to the outer body, or to a fastener cap 56 for inserting into the body of the closure cap 5, as shown in FIG. 8.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment under consideration, the core 10 is extended from its proximal end by a cylindrical endpiece 14 that enables it to be fastened onto the stem 7, as shown in FIG. 8. In particular, fastening may be performed by force-fitting, snap-fastening, adhesive, heat-sealing, or crimping in a housing provided at the end of the stem. In a variant, the stem may be inserted into a housing provided in the core.

The core 10 may also be molded integrally with the stem 7 or with a housing into which the stem 7 is inserted.

Finally, the stem 7 may be made as a single part integrally with the fastener cap 56, or it may be force-fitted into a housing formed in the fastener cap, or it may even include an endpiece 58 for fastening in said fastener cap, as shown in FIG. 8.

In view of the need for the positioning of the applicator faces A₁, A₂ to be indexed relative to the marker(s) 5 b, it is preferable for the applicator member, the stem, the fastener cap, if any, and the base portion of the closure cap 5 when it also includes a rotary portion, to be prevented from turning relative to one another.

To this end, co-operation between the various elements by force-fitting may be sufficient, with the endpiece 14, the stem 7, and the endpiece 58, if any, of the stem 7 being of circular cross-section, as shown in FIG. 9, or with at least one of the endpiece 14, the stem 7, and the endpiece 58, if any, of the stem 7 possibly being of non-circular cross-section in order to serve as polarizing means.

At least one of the endpiece 14, the stem 7, and the endpiece 58 of the stem 7 may be of cross-section that is triangular as shown in FIG. 10, square as shown in FIG. 11, hexagonal as shown in FIG. 12, or any other polygonal shape, or may even include a flat as shown in FIG. 13, two flats as shown in FIG. 14, or a groove as shown in FIG. 15.

Furthermore, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the possible fastener cap 56 co-operates with the closure cap 5 via a fastener bead 59, shown in FIG. 8.

In a variant, the fastener cap 56 may co-operate with the base portion 51 of the closure cap 5 via polarizing means 56 a, the base portion 51 being fastened on the rotary portion by snap-fastening, as shown in FIGS. 8 a and 8 b.

In the exemplary embodiment under consideration, the teeth 18 are made integrally with the core 10 by molding thermoplastic material.

In order to mold the applicator member 8, it is possible to use a thermoplastic material that is optionally relatively rigid, e.g. styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene (SEBS); a silicone rubber; latex rubber; butyl rubber; ethylene-propylene-terpolymer rubber (EPDM); a nitrile rubber; an acetate-based polymer; a styrene-based polymer, a thermoplastic elastomer; a polyester, polyamide, polyethylene, or vinyl elastomer; a polyolefin such as polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP); polyvinyl chloride (PVC); ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA); polystyrene (PS); polyethylene terephthalate (PET); polyoxymethylene (POM); polyamide (PA); or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA.). In particular, it is possible to use materials known under the trade names Hytrel®, Cariflex®, Alixine®, Santoprene®, Pebax®, this list not being limiting.

The thermoplastic material may comprise a biocid agent.

In other exemplary embodiments, the applicator faces A₁, A₂ may differ in the material used, the half of the applicator member that corresponds to the first region and to the teeth supported by said first region being suitable for being molded in a first material, e.g. Hytrel® of hardness of 47 on the Shore A scale (ShA), while the other half is molded in some other material, e.g. Hytrel® of hardness of 63 ShA, the two materials being of different colors.

Where appropriate, the applicator member 8 may also be made by molding, by stamping, or by machining a metal.

The teeth and the core may be made out of different materials.

At its distal end 12, the applicator member 8 may include a head that tapers forwards so as to make it easier to put the applicator 2 back into the receptacle 3. The height of the teeth 18 may decrease on going towards the head 12, along a distal transition portion 13 a, as shown in FIG. 2.

The height of the teeth 18 may also decrease along a proximal transition portion 13 b on going towards the stem 7, so as to make it easier for the applicator member 8 to pass through the wiper member 6 while the applicator 2 is being removed.

The head 12 may be circularly symmetrical, or it may include radial fins, as shown in FIG. 2.

An example of a configuration of a row 17 of teeth 18 is described more precisely below, the description applying equally well, in exemplary embodiments of the invention, to the rows 17 a of the first region 10 a, as to the rows 17 b of the second region 10 b.

Each row 17 of teeth 18 comprises a first set 20 of first teeth that are connected to the corresponding face 15 of the core 10 while forming an angle α_(z1) relative to the normal thereto, and a second set 30 of teeth that are connected to the face 15 obliquely, forming an angle α_(z2) relative to said normal.

The teeth 18 of the first set 20 of teeth are straight, extending along a direction Z₁ that is substantially perpendicular to the face 15, the angle α_(z1) being relatively small, e.g. less than 10°, or even less than 5°.

The teeth 18 of the second set 30 of teeth are also straight in the exemplary embodiment under consideration, extending along a direction Z₂, forming an angle a with the direction Z₁. By way of example, the angle a may lie in the range 20° to 80°.

In FIG. 3, it can be seen that each row comprises teeth having a face that is connected perpendicularly to the corresponding longitudinal face 15 of the core 10.

In the exemplary embodiment described, the teeth 18 of each row 17 are disposed in a staggered configuration. Two consecutive teeth 18 of each row 17 are offset alternately on opposite sides of a separation surface S, the surface S being a bisector plane of the angle α.

The teeth of the first set 20 are disposed on one side of the separation surface S, while the teeth of the second set 30 are disposed on the other side of said separation surface, when the core 10 is observed along its longitudinal axis.

Within each row 17, the bases of the teeth of the first set 20 and the bases of the teeth of the second set 30 are not in alignment, since they are respectively situated entirely on opposite sides of the separation surface S.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the teeth of the first set 20 and of the second set 30 do not overlap, when the applicator member is observed from the side along a direction that is perpendicular to the axis X, as shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, the directions Z₁ and Z₂ of the teeth 18 of the first and second sets 20 and 30 of teeth do not intersect the longitudinal axis X of the core, the teeth being eccentric relative to the axis.

It can be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 that each tooth 18 of the first set 20 of a row 17 may be associated with a respective tooth of the first set 20 of another row 17, substantially occupying the same axial position along the axis X of the core, the passage from one tooth to another being performed by turning about the axis X through a sub-multiple of 360°, in this event 60°. The same applies for each tooth 18 of the second set 30.

The oblique teeth 18 of the various rows face in the same direction around the core, i.e. the clockwise direction in FIG. 3.

It should be understood that the regions and the associated teeth may be combined in any possible manner to make a wide range of different applicators, e.g. with a small number of half-molds assembled together in pairs to form the mold cavity.

Naturally, it is not beyond the ambit of the invention for the applicator member to include a different number of applicator faces, A₁, A₂, . . . A_(n), e.g. presenting an envelope surface of general shape that is circular as shown in FIG. 16, triangular as shown in FIG. 17, or square as shown in FIG. 18. By way of example, the applicator member 8 may include three applicator faces A₁, A₂, A₃, four applicator faces A₁, A₂, A₃, A₄, or even more.

In the exemplary embodiment described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, the core includes six longitudinal faces and has a cross-section that is of hexagonal shape.

In general, the core may include any number of longitudinal faces, with it being possible for any of the above-described characteristics to apply regardless of the number of longitudinal faces.

Each applicator face may be defined by one or more longitudinal faces of the core and by the teeth that are connected thereto.

The core may present a cross-section that is circular, as shown in FIG. 19, or oval, as shown in FIG. 20, or even triangular, octagonal, square, or pentagonal, as shown in FIGS. 21, 22, 23, and 24 respectively.

The core 10 may also include two halves of different shapes as shown in FIG. 25, the cross-sections of the first and second regions 10 a and 10 b being different. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 25, they are both semi-circular but of radii that are different. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 26, one is semi-circular and the other is triangular. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 27, both are triangular, and in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 28, one is triangular and the other is rectangular.

An applicator member 8 of the invention may include more than two visible teeth per longitudinal face, when the core is observed along its longitudinal axis, and, in addition to the first and second teeth 18 of the sets 20 and 30, may include one or more additional teeth 18, e.g. forming an angle β that is greater than α with the direction Z₁, or even extending perpendicularly to the face of the corresponding core.

It would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention for the teeth of the second set 30 of teeth not to slope relative to the longitudinal face 15 of the core to which they are connected, and for the directions Z₁ and Z₂ to be parallel for each row 17.

In the exemplary embodiments described above, the teeth of the first and second sets 20 and 30 of teeth 18 are disposed in a staggered configuration, with their bases not being in alignment.

As shown in FIG. 29, this could be otherwise and the bases of the teeth 18 could be in alignment, on a common line L that is parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 intersecting all of the bases of the aligned teeth of the row, the line constituting the longitudinal axis L of the row.

In addition, FIG. 29 shows rows in which the teeth are spaced apart differently and present different thicknesses.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 30, one row comprises teeth that are in alignment, and the other row comprises teeth that are disposed in a staggered configuration.

When the applicator is observed perpendicularly to its longitudinal axis, two consecutive teeth of a row may define a V-shaped groove, as shown in FIG. 31.

When the applicator member is observed along its longitudinal axis, two consecutive teeth of a row may also form a V-shape, as shown in FIG. 32.

It can be seen in FIGS. 33 and 34 that, within a row, the applicator may include patterns of four teeth, of which the middle teeth form a V-shape. The four teeth succeed one another along the longitudinal axis of the row.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 35 and 36, the row 17 includes patterns of three teeth, of which two teeth form a V-shape with a tooth disposed between them.

Within each row, the teeth could be grouped together, e.g. in groups of two. Naturally, the teeth could be grouped together other than in pairs, the spacing between the groups of teeth within the same row optionally being uniform, and in particular greater than the average spacing between the teeth within a group.

In the example under consideration, each tooth 18 includes a first longitudinal face 40 of plane shape and a second longitudinal face 41 of rounded shape, in particular of convex shape.

In a variant, at least one tooth 18 may have a cross-section that is circular, as shown in FIG. 37, or even triangular, as shown in FIG. 38, or lozenge-shaped, as shown in FIG. 39, or even formed of two different-size adjacent triangles, as shown in FIG. 40, or triangular with a groove, as shown in FIG. 41.

Within a row 17, each of the consecutive teeth 18 may present a first face that is substantially plane. By way of example, the opposite face of the tooth may present a half-cone or half-pyramid shape. The teeth 18 may alternate in orientation, between their first faces facing towards the mid-plane of the row and facing towards the outside of the row. Such a disposition of the teeth makes it easier to mold the row of teeth, with all of the teeth having their first faces turned in one direction being molded by one shell of the mold, while all of the other teeth of the row that have their first faces turned in the opposite direction, are molded by another shell of the mold. The two shells of the mold come into contact with each other. The teeth 18 may be touching to a greater or lesser extent within the row. In particular, the teeth 18 may be substantially touching, either touching or having small spaces between them, e.g. a space that is less than or equal to 0.1 mm at their bases.

Two consecutive teeth of a row may be seen as crossed when the row is observed along its longitudinal axis L.

In a variant, two consecutive teeth of a row may be seen as crossed when the row is observed perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis L, the two crossing teeth being oriented towards the proximal end and towards the distal end of the applicator member respectively.

In variant exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal faces 15 of the core 10 are twisted, as shown in FIG. 42, i.e. the corresponding side turns through at least one turn towards the distal end of the core. The core 10 may be deformed on unmolding by turning the endpiece 14, or, in a variant, it may be deformed in the mold.

The longitudinal axis X of the core 10 may coincide with the longitudinal axis Y of the stem 7, but it would not be beyond the ambit of the present invention for this to be otherwise, and, by way of example, FIG. 43 shows a variant exemplary embodiment in which the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 forms an angle y_(i) with the longitudinal axis Y of the stem. Such a configuration may improve application by making it easier to manipulate the applicator.

The core may extend along a longitudinal axis X that is not rectilinear. FIG. 44 shows a variant exemplary embodiment in which the core extends along a longitudinal axis X that is curved.

In another variant shown in FIG. 45, the envelope surface E presents a cross-section that passes via a minimum. The axis X coincides with the axis Y.

In the variant shown in FIG. 46, the longitudinal axis X of the core 10 is rectilinear, and the envelope surface E presents an ovoid shape.

In another variant, shown in FIG. 47, the free ends of the teeth 18 define an envelope surface E that extends generally along a longitudinal axis W that forms an angle y₂ with the longitudinal axis X of the core 10, where such an applicator member could be said to be eccentric.

The FIG. 48 variant differs from the FIG. 38 variant in the shape of the envelope surface E that presents a cross-section that passes via a minimum. The applicator member may also present an envelope surface E of various other shapes.

In addition to the shapes described above, the applicator member may present an envelope surface E of shape that is generally frustoconical and that may be centered on the longitudinal axis X of the core of the applicator member, which axis may also coincide with the longitudinal axis Y of the stem 7.

The core 10 may also present a shape that is generally frustoconical, or a shape that is circularly cylindrical, or still some other shape.

The axis of the envelope surface E need not coincide with the axis of the core, e.g. it may be parallel thereto. By way of example, it is possible for the face A₁ of the applicator member to have a greater number of rows of teeth extending longitudinally and parallel to the axis X than the opposite face A₂, and/or rows including a greater number of teeth within each row, and/or teeth having thicknesses that are different from the thicknesses of the teeth carried by the opposite region of the core.

By way of example, the face A₁ may have teeth of a length that is longer than the length of the teeth on the face A₂, with a number of teeth per longitudinal row that is different for each of the faces A₁ and A₂, for example. It is possible to have a greater number of rows of teeth on the face A₂, the teeth on the face A₂ being thinner than the teeth on the face A_(l), for example, with a greater number of teeth within each row, for example.

In general, all of the shapes described above may define two or more applicator faces A_(lf) A₂, ... A_(n), as explained above.

The rows 17 could include different numbers of teeth, with one of the rows being shorter than another, for example.

All of the teeth could be connected to the core along a direction that is contained in a plane that is perpendicular to the axis X. This could be otherwise, and teeth could slope towards the distal or proximal end.

In the variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 49, the core includes a recess in which there is engaged a support portion 60, e.g. made of metal or plastics material. The core may be configured to be fastened to the support portion 60, or it may be free to turn or to move in translation relative to the support portion 60.

Which face of the applicator member is selected for applying makeup may result in different makeup effects.

The teeth of at least one row could present different heights, passing through an extremum between the extreme teeth of the row, for example.

At least one of the teeth 18 of the rows 17 could present a surface state that is not smooth, e.g. having ridges as a result of molding or roughness linked to the presence of a filler in the plastics material, for example, or even having flocking.

FIGS. 50 a to 50 d show two variant exemplary embodiments in which the closure cap 5 includes two diametrally-opposite flats 5 a on a rotary portion 52 of the closure cap 5, and a stationary portion 51 including two diametrally-opposite markers 5 b, each constituted by a colored zone, each of a different color.

The rotary portion 52 of the closure cap 5 further includes a window 130 that comes to be positioned over a marker 5 b, the user thus being able to observe the color of the marker through the window.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 50 a and 50 b, the window is constituted by a notch formed in an outside wall of the rotary portion 52 of the closure cap 5.

In the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 50 c and 50 d, the window 130 is formed in a tongue that is fastened to the rotary portion 52 and overlying the stationary portion 51.

Before opening the device, the user turns the rotary portion 52 relative to the stationary portion 51 so as to position the window 130 in register with the desired marker 5 b, and then the user opens the container 3 and applies the composition, with the selected marker that is visible in the window 130 being positioned to face the user.

The markers need not be visible when they do not appear in the window, as in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 50 a and 50 b, or, on the contrary, they may be visible, as in the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 50 c and 50 d, such that the markers need not always be visible.

The handle 5 may be deprived of any flat, as shown in FIG. 50 e.

In the example shown in FIG. 50 e, the device comprises a rotary portion 52 comprising a ring mounted to turn on a stationary portion 51 of the closure cap 5.

By way of example, the ring 52 may have an opening through which the user can observe a marker 5 b present on the stationary portion 51.

In a variant, as shown in FIG. 50 f, the ring 52 may include a marker 5 b.

In the variant exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 50 f, the rotary portion 52 and the stationary portion 51 of the closure cap 5 may each have a marker 5 b. By way of example, the user may turn the rotary portion 52 in order to bring the markers 5 b face-to-face before proceeding with application, the markers both being of the same color or having identical signs, for example.

The exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 50 g differs from that shown in FIG. 50 d by the fact that the marker 5 b includes an indication, e.g. the letter L, and by the choice of the portion 51 that is stationary relative to the movable portion 52.

Another variant is shown in FIGS. 50 h to 50 i. By way of example, the applicator member 8 comprises a brush made by injection molding, having teeth on a first applicator face A1 and having no teeth on another applicator face A2, e.g. being plane on this applicator face, as can be seen in FIG. 50 k.

Furthermore, in this exemplary embodiment, the device may include a stationary portion 51 and a rotary portion 52, as described above.

The presence of an applicator face A2 that is plane without any application element may enable more composition to be taken and enable the eyelashes to be coated to a greater extent after passing through the wiper member, since the wiper member does not wipe the applicator face A2 completely, e.g. because it has a wiper orifice that is circular in section.

The plane of the applicator face A2 may be diametral.

By way of example, the applicator face A1 may have six rows of teeth, e.g. corresponding to the applicator face A1 of the example of FIG. 3.

FIG. 50 l shows the applicator member 5 in isolation.

It can be seen that the rotary portion 52 may be formed by a ring snapped onto the stationary portion 51 with the stem 7 being fastened thereto in identified manner, by means of an assembly fitting 501 provided with a notch 502, the notch being arranged to receive a lug 510 formed on the stem 7. By way of example, the assembly fitting 501 is molded integrally with the tubular body 504 of the stationary portion 51. The proximal end of the body 504 may be closed by a disk 505. The body 504 may comprise a threaded assembly skirt 507.

The ring 52 may be made with an opening 513 and the stationary portion with a marker capable of being positioned in said opening 513, when the ring is in a certain angular position relative to the stationary portion 51.

Still in a variant, the applicator member may comprise a brush, e.g. a twisted brush, as shown in FIG. 51, comprising a twisted core 10 carrying bristles 18.

The core 10 may be fastened in various ways on the stem 7, e.g. being inserted into a housing of the stem 7, formed at the end of said stem. The stem 7 may present a cross-section that is circular.

The two branches of the core 10 may be portions of a piece of wire that is folded in half, as shown in FIG. 52. The wire used may be a wire of constant circular section e.g. of diameter lying in the range 0.35 mm to 0.9 mm.

Where appropriate, the wire used may include a diameter that varies and/or it may present surface irregularities, as shown in FIG. 53. This may contribute to breaking the spiral effect along the brush, i.e. to imparting a more uniform distribution for the ends of the bristles.

The ends of the bristles 18 may possibly be abraded.

The bristles used may have any cross-section, e.g. solid circular, as shown in FIG. 54A; hollow, of any section, in particular circular, as shown in FIG. 54B; flat, in particular rectangular, as shown in FIG. 54C; cross shaped, as shown in FIG. 54D; with one or more capillary grooves, as shown in FIG. 54E; or with one or more hinged-together portions, as shown in FIG. 54F; naturally other sections also being possible, as described in patent publications of the same inventor.

The diameter of a bristle is considered as being the diameter of the smallest circle in which its section can be inscribed. The bristles may have a diameter that varies over their length, in which event the diameter in question is the mean diameter.

The bristles may be rectilinear or they may have an undulating shape.

The bristles may be made out of any material, and in particular a synthetic material, e.g. thermoplastic, e.g. a polyolefin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, POM, PA, PS, this list not being limiting.

From one applicator face to another, the bristles may be the same color or different colors.

From one applicator face to another, the bristles may be of section having the same shape or different shapes.

From one applicator face to another, the bristles may be made out of the same material or out of different materials.

In particular, all of the bristles of the brush may be made out of the same material.

The brush may be subjected to various treatments, in particular so as to modify the shape of its envelope surface, in particular to impart thereto a shape that is not circularly symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of the core, so as to define its different applicator faces A₁, A₂ . . . A.

By way of example, FIGS. 55 to 63 show various examples of cross-sections for the envelope surface E of the brush, the brush being defined in conventional manner by the geometrical surface defined by the free ends of the bristles.

A conventionally shaped brush presents an envelope surface that is circularly cylindrical, possibly with a frustoconical portion at the front, at its end remote from the stem.

Over at least a fraction of the length of the brush, e.g. over more than one fourth of the length of the portion of the core carrying the bristles, the envelope surface E of the brush may have a section that is circular, as shown in FIG. 55, or that is polygonal and optionally regular, e.g. substantially triangular, as shown in FIG. 56, hexagonal, as shown in FIG. 57, or rectangular, as shown in FIG. 58.

Within a cross-section, the core may be centered or off-center as shown in FIGS. 59 and 59 a.

The envelope surface E of the brush may also have a cross-section in the shape of a water droplet of greater or lesser height, as shown in FIGS. 60 and 61.

One or more indentations may be formed on one or more faces of the brush, as shown in FIG. 62.

Notches may be formed on the brush, as shown in FIG. 63. Envelope surfaces of other shapes are possible, e.g. as described in the publications of the Applicant designating the same inventor.

The brush may be made with an envelope surface having a diameter that varies along the longitudinal axis of the brush, and, by way of example, that passes via an extremum, as shown in FIG. 64.

In a variant, the diameter of the bristles may decrease with an increase in the diameter of the brush, over at least a fraction of the length of said brush, so as to benefit from bristles that are even more flexible.

FIG. 65 shows a brush having an envelope surface having the general shape of a peanut with three extremums, e.g. two maximums in the proximities of its proximal and distal ends, and a minimum between the maximums.

FIG. 66 shows a brush having an envelope surface of section that increases from its distal end to its proximal end. The brush may also have the general shape of a ball, as shown in FIG. 67, or it may be egg-shaped, as shown in FIG. 68.

The core may extend with its longitudinal axis X centered for all of the sections of the brush, or, in a variant, it may be off-center, as shown in FIG. 69.

The brush may also have a longitudinal section of rectangular shape, as shown in FIG. 70, or fish-shaped, as shown in FIG. 71, or even bullet-shaped, as shown in FIG. 72.

The applicator faces may be defined by an edge defined by the envelope surface of the brush, or even by one of the faces of said brush.

The applicator member may have at least two different applicator faces A1, A2 simultaneously, each being of unvarying shape, as described above.

In a variant, the applicator member may have an outside surface of shape that can be modified, e.g. so as to be capable of taking up in succession at least two different shapes in response to the user acting on a movable portion of the handle relative to a stationary portion of the handle.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 84 a to 84 c, the applicator member 8 comprises a deformable envelope 140 having branches 560 each carrying teeth, the branches not all having the same numbers of teeth so as to define at least two different applicator faces A1 and A2, as can be seen in FIG. 84 c. In addition, the closure cap 5 comprises a portion 52 that is movable relative to a stationary portion 51 that is itself connected to a solid stem 143. A hollow stem 144 is engaged in the stem 143 and is movable relative thereto, the stem 143 turning together with the movable portion 52. Moving the solid stem relative to the hollow stem can give rise to the envelope 140 being inflated. The closure cap 5 comprises markers 5 b so as to identify the position of the movable portion 52 relative to the stationary portion 51. The stationary portion may also comprise one or more markers of orientations that are identified relative to the faces A1 and A2.

FIGS. 82 a and 82 b show an exemplary embodiment in which the applicator member comprises an envelope 140 engaged on a core 147, which core is of cross-section that is not circular, but oblong, e.g. oval, rectangular, or elliptical.

The user may turn the core 147 relative to the envelope 140 so as to deform the outside shape of the applicator member 8.

Deforming the envelope 140 deforms the application surface. The deformed application surface may impart different properties on performing application.

In the configuration of FIG. 82 a, the applicator member 8 defines an application surface A1, and in the configuration of FIG. 82 b, the applicator member 8 defines an application surface A2.

In order to turn the core 147 relative to the envelope 140, use is made, for example, of a handle comprising two portions, one of which is capable of turning relative to the other, the envelope 140 and the core 147 being fastened relative to respective ones of those portions, e.g. being connected thereto by two coaxial stems.

Markers may be present on the handle portion in order to inform the user of the configuration that has been selected for the applicator member.

In another variant, and as shown in FIGS. 83 a and 83 b, the envelope 140 may be deformed by pushing the core 147 into the envelope, thereby causing the applicator surface to swell, e.g. defining an application surface A1 that is concave, as shown in FIG. 83 a, or otherwise, as shown in FIG. 83 b.

Swelling the envelope 140 to a greater or lesser extent may give rise to more or less vigorous wiping on passing through the wiper member.

In a variant embodiment, the core 147 may be curved. As the core 147 is pushed into the envelope 140, it may cause curving of the envelope, as shown on FIG. 83 c, and as the core 147 is less pushed into the envelope, as shown on FIG. 83 d, it may cause a limitation of the curving, or even render it rectilinear, due to the force exerted on the core 147 by the envelope 140, as the core 147 may be slightly by deformable.

The core may retract in a portion of enlarged inner diameter of a hollow stem carrying the envelope, as the core is not in the envelope, while keeping in said portion a curved shape.

The applicator member may be subjected to any treatment that seeks to modify the ends of the applicator elements, e.g. so as to create different applicator faces, the treatment may seek to form a ball at the end of each bristle, as shown in FIG. 74, or so as to form a fork, as shown in FIG. 75.

In the presence of a ball at the end of a bristle, the term “diameter” refers to the diameter of the bristle before the treatment leading to the formation of the ball.

The applicator elements may be subjected to heat treatment that seeks to curve the applicator elements, as shown in FIG. 76, or to beat the brush when the applicator member comprises a brush, so as to create a zone of weakness on the bristles that modifies the orientation thereof, in particular for the purpose of breaking the spiral effect, as shown in FIG. 77.

At their free ends, the applicator elements may present respective portions in relief or a particular shape, e.g. a hook, as shown in FIG. 78. By way of example, the hook may extend transversally, parallel, or obliquely relative to the longitudinal axis X of the core. In order to obtain the beads, it is possible to heat the applicator member in such a manner as to melt the ends of the applicator elements, for example. In order to obtain the forks or the hooks, it is possible to abrade the applicator member, for example.

The applicator member may be made with a plastics material that includes magnetic particles. The magnetic field created by such particles, that may be magnetizable and/or magnetized, may, for example, exert an effect on the eyelashes and/or interact with magnetic fibers or pigments that are present in the composition.

The wiper member may be made in some other way, e.g. it could comprise a block of foam that could be slotted.

The wiper member may be as described in patent applications or U.S. Pat. Nos. 2005/0028834, 2005/0175394, 2004/0258453, 6,375,374, and 6,328,495, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The wiper lip 9 may advantageously be undulating, having a radially-inner free edge defining an orifice 122 through which the applicator member can pass, as shown in FIG. 79. The wiper lip 9 may include undulations 120 that extend around the orifice 122. The wiper member 9 may include a number of undulations 120 lying in the range 3 to 12, for example.

The wiper lip 9 may extend generally along a cone that converges towards the bottom of the receptacle, and that has a generator line G forming an angle i with the axis X of the receptacle. In a variant, the wiper lip 9 may extend generally along a mid-plane that is perpendicular to the axis X, or it could even extend generally along a cone that converges towards the outlet of the receptacle.

The wiper member may also be adjustable, where appropriate.

The stem 7 to which the core is fastened may be flexible at least in part, and in particular could be entirely flexible, in particular in the proximity of the applicator member. By way of example, the stem may include at least one flexible element 80, as shown in FIG. 80, or at least one elastomer element, for example, or it may present a shape that imparts flexibility, e.g. at least one notch 81 as shown in FIG. 81. By way of example, the flexible or elastomer element may be flocked and/or may also be used for applying the composition.

Vibration could possibly be applied to the applicator member during application, combing, or while taking the composition, e.g. as described in application WO 2006/090343.

By way of example, FIGS. 85 a to 85 c show an exemplary embodiment having a vibration source 150 inserted in the closure cap 5 and including a switch 151.

By way of example, the vibration source 150 comprises a disk motor 700 connected to a button cell 701.

The assembly fitting 501 may be extended on top by a housing 590 suitable for receiving a finger 595 of the vibration source 150, the finger being integrally molded with the housing of the vibration source.

The marker is in this exemplary embodiments situated on the closure cap 5 perpendicularly to the finger 595, around the longitudinal axis.

Optionally, it is possible to use a heating applicator member.

Naturally, the invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiments, the characteristics of which can be combined together within variants not shown.

In particular, the applicator member could be made with other shapes of envelope surface.

The term “comprising a” should be understood as being synonymous with the term “comprising at least one” unless specified to the contrary.

The expression “lying in the range” should be construed as including the limits of the range. 

1. An applicator for applying a cosmetic, makeup, or care product composition, the applicator comprising: an applicator member for applying the composition and defining at least two different applicator faces that are configured to apply the composition to the eyelashes or the eyebrows; a handle of the applicator, extending along a longitudinal axis of the handle; and a stem connecting the applicator member and the handle, extending along a longitudinal axis of the stem; the longitudinal axis of the handle being of orientation that cannot be adjusted relative to the longitudinal axis of the stem, the applicator comprising marker means not on the applicator member itself, the marker means being for positioning to face the user during application, the applicator member having a predefined angular position relative to the marker means, such that the positioning of the applicator given by the marker means corresponds to using a predefined applicator face.
 2. An applicator according to the preceding claim, wherein the applicator member comprises a core and applicator elements carried by the core, the applicator faces differing from each other, or from one another, in at least one of the core and the applicator elements.
 3. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the different applicator faces differ concerning the applicator elements in at least one of: their disposition on the core; their shape; their length; their thickness; their cross-sectional shape or material; treatment possibly received thereby; their arrangement in their rows; their number in a row; their number on an applicator face; the arrangement of their rows relative to one another; and the shapes of envelope surfaces defined by the free ends of the applicator elements of each of the applicator faces of the applicator member; and/or concerning the core in at least one of: its shape; the shape of a cross-section thereof; the shape of a longitudinal section thereof; its length; its thickness.
 4. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises two different opposite applicator faces.
 5. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises three different applicator faces, in particular disposed as the sides of a triangle, or even four or more different applicator faces.
 6. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the applicator member comprises a twisted core that retains bristles, and/or a core that is made by molding and that carries teeth.
 7. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the marker means comprise at least one marker that makes it possible to inform the user about the orientation of the applicator member relative to the handle, in particular a marker comprising: one or more characters that are alpha-numeric, numeric, letters, icons, or symbols; graduations; or an indented or projecting shape in relief; or at least one zone of the surface of the handle having a different surface state, color, and/or feel.
 8. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle is not circularly symmetrical, in particular not circularly cylindrical.
 9. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a flat, in particular being flat along a mid-plane for the applicator member and separating two opposite applicator faces thereof.
 10. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the stem, an endpiece of the applicator member for fastening the applicator member to the stem, and an endpiece of the stem for fastening the stem to the handle, comprises polarizing means or a shape that is not entirely circularly symmetrical, so as to index the applicator member relative to the handle.
 11. An applicator according to claim 1, wherein the handle comprises a rotary portion that is suitable for turning relative to a base portion of the handle.
 12. An applicator according to the preceding claim, wherein the marker means are situated on one of the two portions, with an additional positioning indicator that is situated on the other of the two portions being suitable for being positioned facing the marker means, by turning the rotary portion relative to the base portion.
 13. An applicator according to claim 1, the applicator member not being axially symmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis of the applicator member.
 14. A method of manufacturing an applicator as defined in claim 1, wherein the applicator member is mounted with a predefined orientation about its longitudinal axis relative to the handle.
 15. A method of applying makeup to the eyelashes or the eyebrows by means of an applicator as defined in claim 1, wherein the marker means are positioned facing the user. 